It wasn’t long ago Jason Day was on top of the golf world, winner of his first career major title at the 2015 PGA Championship and ranked No. 1 in the world.

Entering the Northern Trust at Glen Oaks Club this week, Day is ranked No. 9 in the world and No. 49 in the FedExCup standings.

“I feel like I’ve come into this week of the playoffs under the radar, which is nice,” Day said Thursday after shooting an opening-round 1-under 69. “I didn’t have any media [obligations] Monday through Wednesday. I was a sponsor’s pick for the Pro-Am. I’m like, ‘Whoa, what’s going on here? It’s been a long time since I’ve been one of those.’

“It’s humbling being in a position like this because I know I’ve had it good for a long time, and through some poor play this year, I haven’t been in the position that I would like to be. And [it’s] humbling in that I need to work a lot harder than what I’m doing right now. I’m working hard. Just have to let the work catch up and hopefully it does shortly.”

Day has been in good position to win the FedExCup playoff series but has been edged out by strong late runs from Billy Horschel in 2015 and Rory McIlroy in 2016.

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“The last two years, I’ve had an opportunity to win the FedExCup, and someone’s either won or come from behind and won,” Day said. “It would be nice to be able to do that to someone, even though, you know, I’d like to be in a better position [than 49th]. I need to do that to get myself into [the] Tour Championship.

“It’s always important to get off to a good start this week. If you can cap off a win here, you’re pretty much guaranteeing yourself that you’re going to be in [the] Tour Championship. If I do that, a little bit of pressure will come off my shoulders, and I can worry about getting myself and playing my way into contention [to win] the FedExCup.”

The field of 120 players this week whittles down to 100 for the Dell Technologies Championship next week. It reduces to 70 players after the third event, the BMW Championship in Illinois, the field goes to 30 for the season-ending Tour Championship.

Justin Thomas, who just won the PGA Championship two weeks ago, sounded like he was feeling a bit of a hangover Thursday after winning his first career major despite shooting a respectable 2-under 68.

“That was a really weird round of golf I’d say,” Thomas said. “I had a really hard time getting focused and getting into it. I don’t know why, what the purpose was. I told Jimmie [Johnson, his caddie], ‘Man, I’m having a hard time with this today and I need your help.’ He kept me in it and we tried to talk to our shots a little more.”

Thomas described his thought process entering his first event since the PGA this way: “Just see what I can do with what I have. I mean, my game definitely isn’t where I would want it to be but I mean, I’m more proud of rounds like today than I am when I play really well. I’m really trying to somehow get myself in the mix and see what happens.”

Dustin JohnsonGetty Images

Dustin Johnson insisted two weeks ago at the PGA Championship his game was close to the impeccable form it was in entering the Masters before he hurt his back in a fall down some stairs. After an opening-round 65 at Glen Oaks, he felt those words validated.

“[Thursday] was the first time it’s kind of felt, the golf swing, like I was in control, like I was leading into the Masters,” Johnson said. “I’ve been saying it’s close and I’ve seen signs of it, but [Thursday] was the first day where I felt like all day, I was really in control of the swing. I did everything really well. It’s the first time in a long time I’ve done that.”

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“It’s in great shape, perfect shape,” first-round leader Russell Henley said. “It’s got its fair share of really long, tough holes and its fair share of holes that are somewhat shorter, but you can be a little more aggressive with them. I think everybody will like it. It played very fair. I think like most courses we play out here, if you can fly it 300 [yards] like a lot of those guys, it helps.”

Rory McIlroy, one of the long hitters, said: “It’s a new course for all of us, and it’s tough. The rough is very thick.”

Scott Brown is one of the few players who had played Glen Oaks before this week. After missing the cut at the Barclays at Bethpage Black last year, he played the course that Saturday.

“One of the pros in the area, said, ‘Why don’t you go over to Glen Oaks? I’ll set it up for you,’ ” Brown said. “It was a little different [then]. When I came, the rough was a little lower. But it was in great condition when I played it. It’s always helpful anytime you see a golf course [before a tournament]. I kind of got a feel of tee shots more than anything when I came here.”